Sphaera Somnium is a 360 degree audiovisual installation that serves as a gateway for individuals to step into a realm filled with speculative spaces, where immersive techniques encourage the human senses to explore uncharted territories. Within Sphaera Somnium, we aim to demonstrate how new spatial media can enrich user experiences and offer glimpses into alternate perspectives. By seamlessly blending audio and visuals, this immersive journey is meant to evoke dreamlike, multi-sensory sensations. The project also offers accessibility to realities that would typically require significant time, expense, and transportation to access. This accessibility not only breaks down physical barriers but also levels the playing field on the cost of experience, making it available to a wider audience regardless of geographical location or financial means. By providing a platform for individuals to engage with these speculative environments, we hope to foster a deeper understanding of our relationship with technology, perception, and the world around us. As participants are transported into these immersive realms, they are encouraged to contemplate the emerging uses of new technologies and how they shape our understanding of reality.

As children and preteens begin to grow up and make their way through their teenage years, they are beginning to figure themselves out and form their own identities. They are starting to learn about events and the issues going on in the world and they are forced to determine their stance on certain issues whether that be their self-identity, politics, social injustice, etc. Realistically, many people feel uncomfortable talking about these issues. We want to prepare our audience, so they are not afraid or uncomfortable of such conversations. Through collectible cards and enamel pins with a children’s book, this product acts as a gateway to becoming more educated at an earlier age, and it aims to spread awareness about the experiences of our peers. The combination of digital branding and physical objects puts our purpose of spreading awareness in a way that makes it easier for our peers to understand. When people can relate to an idea, they will develop a personal connection to it and feel comfortable. We want our audience to be able to identify with, feel connected, and get educated on social injustice topics like mental health, discrimination, or harassment through our product. In recent years, education technology has been transforming the way we learn. With our project’s website feature, it is a more immersive and entertaining way to learn. Our generation has grown up with collectibles like Webkinz, Pokemon, Build-A-Bears, etc. that would come with a digital feature where owners can form a personal connection with their character for fun. Our purpose is to bring that back and make it more modern, current, and educational.

WEAVER: The Color of Cadence is an animated short film about overcoming fear that demonstrates the collaboration between several skill sets to bring a story to life through visual art, music, writing, and digital design. This project is an example of the incredible intersection of art and technology to enrich the lives of our fellow humans, the culmination of our team’s studies in Media Arts and Sciences. This creative thesis serves as a closer accompanying look at the short film that will be screened at showcase, delving into detailing the research and inspiration behind its conception, our techniques and digital design practices, and in what positive ways we hope this film impacts its audience.

For this creative project, I created a visually immersive and artistic data visualization of global space-related activities. The project aims to create a sense of wonder and creativity for space exploration through unconventional data visualization. By focusing mainly on the artistic elements of the visualization, the project will have a larger emotional impact on its viewers, as opposed to a traditional data visualization. The project uses a comprehensive dataset of space-related articles, all of which include the location of the activity discussed in the article, as well as keywords and other fields. The dataset will serve as material to create a narrative that shows not only how space-related activities are distributed around the globe but also the overarching themes of the activities. To create the final project, I used the JavaScript library p5.js.

Artificial Intelligence has had a massive burst of growth in the past two years, and will likely impact every job on the market. In my thesis I investigate how AI will affect the creative arts, specifically visual arts, creative writing and film, and why the industry might turn to using AI over human counterparts.

Meloscape, an innovative music therapy iPad app, addresses the challenge of providing an authentic therapeutic experience virtually to older adults. Meloscape offers a user-friendly platform that goes beyond existing apps by providing standalone simulations of music therapy sessions that can also be used as a tool between in-person sessions. Developed with a focus on research, accessibility, lifelong learning, and the unique needs of older adults, Meloscape features follow-along video sessions, guided meditations, personalized music selections, and journaling capabilities, creating a holistic and immersive music therapy experience. Meloscape strives to empower older adults to independently engage in music therapy, fostering cognitive and physical well-being and enriching their lives in profound ways.